Patients with cancer often complain that their "mind does not seem to be clear." This can be due to stress, depression, anxiety, or physical problems caused by cancer or the treatments used to control symptoms. There are many purposes for this study; one of them is to learn about the effects of cancer treatments on the brain, and another is to identify useful tools to detect these effects. The results of this study may stimulate new research comparing different treatments to the current treatment so the researchers may learn how to treat symptoms more effectively and improve patient quality of life. We would also like to learn more about the effects chemotherapy may have on DNA.

To evaluate changes in cognitive performance pre- to post-chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. [ Time Frame: approximately 4 to 6 months from baseline, depending on chemotherapy regimen ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:

To evaluate associations between changes in frontal cortex and hippocampal volumes and activation patterns and changes in neuropsychological test performance. [ Time Frame: 4 to 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

To evaluate the relationship between change in level of oxidative DNA damage markers of cell senescence (Telomere attrition) and changes in volume and activation patterns in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. [ Time Frame: 4 to 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

A noncancer control group (N=35), frequency matched on age (< 50 and ≥ 50) and education (less than college or some college and above) will also be recruited and evaluated with the same neuropsychological test battery on a schedule that matches the inter-test interval of the patients.

We will recruit patients with localized breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy for the first time and will test the effects of chemotherapy will be given a battery of neuropsychological tests and an MRI evaluation prior to beginning chemotherapy and approximately one month (plus/minus 4 weeks) following completion of treatment.

This is a prospective, longitudinal study to examine time-dependent neurocognitive changes in patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. This study will assess chemotherapy-induced cognitive dysfunction. The researchers will recruit patients with localized breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy for the first time and will test the effects of chemotherapy on patients' cognitive function utilizing a standardized neuropsychological battery. Patients scheduled for chemotherapy will be given a battery of neuropsychological undergo MRI evaluation prior to beginning chemotherapy and one month following completion of treatment.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 70 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Sampling Method:

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Potential subjects for the study will be identified MSKCC's clinic.

Healthy control group participants will be recruited through advertisements and flyers which will be available/advertised in the community. Health control participants will also be recruited by asking survivors if they have a friend who might want to volunteer for the study.

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Patient is 18 years of age but not older than 70years of age

Patient is female

Patient is able to understand English, through verbal and written communication

In the judgment of the investigator and/or the consenting professional patient is able to provide informed consent

Patient is chemotherapy naïve and is receiving chemotherapy or is scheduled to receive no chemotherapy as part of adjuvant treatment

Patient does not report history of prior breast or other cancer with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer and/or participants who completed treatment for a previous cancer at least 5 years ago and have not undergone any chemotherapy.

As per self report, participant has dentures, body jewelry or wig that they are unable to remove

As per self report, participant has a history of head injury with evidence of brain injury or loss of consciousness for > 60 minutes or cognitive sequelae

As per self report, participant has untreated or current episode of depression (answering positively to either of the two screening questions from the PHQ-9 (Kroenke, et al., 2001)

As per self report, participant has sleep disorders that could influence cognitive functioning including sleep apnea and narcolepsy,

As per self report, participant has history of Axis I psychiatric disorder (DSM-IV), major affective disorder (untreated), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia disorder (DSM-IV) or substance use disorders

As per self report, participant has undergone previous chemotherapy treatment.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00550134

Locations

United States, New York

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, United States, 10065

Sponsors and Collaborators

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

The City College of New York

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Biomedical Engineering Newark College of Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology